Well plug



Dec. 29, .1931.

' F. DAVIDSON ET AL WELL PLUG Filed Dec. 29, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Allomcy 29, 1 F. DAVIDSON ET AL 1,838,662

WELL PLUG Fi-ld Dec. .29, 1930 s Sheets-Sheet s A llomeg Inventora 1Patented Dec. 29, 1931- PATENT OFFICE FRANK DAVIDSON AND nouennn'enrmv,or ASHER, oxmnorrn WELL ewe Application filed December 29;1930. SerialNo; 505,427; i

This invention relates generally to oil well apparatus and particularlyto a salt water plug for plugging a well at any desiredpoint whichwilladmirably exclude salt water and will maintain the said saltwater belowthe level of the plug.

My invention comprises various features ofnovelty and advantage whichwill be more clearly understood as the description pro- 1Q ceeds, whichprovide conveniences of operation, manufacture and mechanical perfectionnotheretofore achieved: in the art.

The object of the invention, its nature, its

composition and arrangement and combination of parts will be readilyunderstood by anyone acquainted with the art to which this inventionrelates upon consulting the follow ing description and the drawings inwhich Figure 1 is a general elevational view of our device; v 1

Figure 2 is an enlarged verticaltransverse sectional view of the upperpart of Figure 1, with the expanding plates expanded, I Figure 3 is ahorizontal transverse sectional view taken on the line approximately 33of Figure 2. i l V Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectionalview of the lower portion of the device'not disclosed in Figure 2 andFigure 5 is a transverse section approximately on Figured. I v I VFigure 6 is a detail transverse cross sectional view of'the lowerportion of 'Figure 2,

Figure 7 is an elevational view of the lower slip pin and its weight. aa

Figure 8 is an elevational view of the upper slip pin or wedge pi Figure9yis a perspectiveview of the extending plate. i Figure 10 is aperspectiveview of the. lower slip support. 1

Referring in the line 5-5' of detail to the drawings, the

v numeral -5 designates generally a tubular casing having a-bore 6extendedxfrom-its upper end downwardly 'to, an intermediate portionthereof and where it isenlarged as indicated at? andcut away on twosides as shown at 8. The upper end of the upright tubular body 5-i'sformed with a laterally exitending flange 9 on of expanding platesadapted to be expanded horizontal cross Vwedge block 23 are disclosed inFigure 10.

is disposed a set by a wedge pin generally designated 11 which has theenlarged head 12, the conical wedge portion 13 and the-reduced uniformlycylindrical portion 14 which projects in the bore 6 and through theenlargement 7 where it is engaged atvits sides bya slip ratchetstructure 15 WlllClllSlllgQd. by a spring '16 of the helical typecircumposed about the reduced 50 portion ll of the wedge pin. The upperportion of the enlargement or chamber 7 is formed dome like as indicatedat 17 and to cooperate withthe rounded upper portions of the slipstructure 15 whereby, whenever the wedge pin. isumoved downwardly theslip structure 15 will positively prevent the upward movement of thewedge pin; VAs de* scribed the lowerend of the wedge pin moves in anaxial continuation of the bore 6 and 79 denominated 6a. Thetaperedportion 13 of the wedge pin cooperates with a'tapered bore 18formed in the expanding plates and also in a pair of lead gaskets 19placed above the expanding plates.

Below the bore 6a there is formed an axial recess 20 which communicateswith a tapered screw threaded receptor 21 in which is screw threaded bymeans of a nipple 22 a down: wardly tapered wedge block 23, which hasanso axial centralized bore 24, Slidable inslots or guides 25 formedaboutfthe periphery-of the tapered slips 26having the teeth 27 forengaging the walls of the casing. of the well. The slips 26arevertically carried by pivoted links28 upon a slipsupport 29 which hasa general hexagonal shape 'The slip support is providedwith a, hole inits center denomijnated 30 anda notch cut straight inwardly 00 from themiddle portion of each of its sides or as?showninthevdrawingsin everyother side. The notches are designated 31, andthe sides are drilledasat32 toprovidefor pivot pins for pivotallymounting the links in themanner shown inFigurel. a l p V Adapted to have axial motion through thebore 24; ofgthe wedge block 23 and through the hole 30 of the slipsupport 29, where it is secured by a cross pin 33 so as to provide 1 9for moving the slip support 29 whenever it is moved, there is provided alower or bottom slip pm 34 which has a disk head 35 on its upper end anda hole 36 in its lower end. Within the recess 30 there is provided acoiled expansion spring 37 which normally presses the head 35 upwardlyagainst the terminus of the recess 20, whereby the pin 34 is urgedupwardly upon any slackening of a rope or cable 38 at the lower end ofwhich is attached a conical or wedge shaped weight 39, whereby the lowerslips 26 will be forced to climb the inclined faces of the guides of thewedge block, whereby they are forced outwardly to engage the interiorwall of the well casing, for locking the plug'therein.

The use and operation of the device is believed to be clear, since it iswell known that devices of this type are to be used when drilling a welland reaching an oil level beyond which it is desired to'drill, with aconsequent discovery of a water level and a subsequent decision to cutoff the water and break the casing at the first discovered oil level.The device of my invention is lowered into the Well and allowed totravel down in the easing until the weight 39 strikes the bottom of thewell and forces the expanding of the lower slips 26 which firmly gripthe interior of the casing and prevent the upward movement of the plug.Upon driving the wedge pin 11 downwardly the expanding plates are forcedagainst the wall of thecasing and the lead gasket effectively preventsthe escape of water or gas beyond the said plug, the wedge pin beingheld against escape by the upper slip structure 15.

The features of novelty and the advantages of our invention wili now beobvious to anyone acquainted with the art to which this inventionrelates, and it is believed that its simplicity, cheapness ofmanufacture and high efficiency and ruggedness will be readilyrecognized.

It is to be definitely stated that we do not desire to limit theapplication of this invention to the particular modification set outherein toillustrate the principle thereof, and any change or changes maybe made consistent with the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new is l. A wellplug of the type described comprising an upright body having a centrallyand longitudinally formed upper bore extending from its upper end to anintermediate point, and a tapered and screw threaded lower boreextending from its lower end to a point below the lower terminal of theupper bore, an expansible body on the upper end of the body and a wedgepin movable in the upper bore for expanding said expansible body, andgripping means for the pin movable in a portion of said upper bore forlimiting the upward movement of the pin, and an expansible jaw structureon the lower end of the body, and means associated with the lower end ofthe body for expanding said jaw structure.

2. A well plug of the type described comprising an upright body having acentrally and longitudinally formed upper bore extending from its upperend to an intermediate point, and a tapered and screw threaded lowerbore extending from its lower end to a point below the lower terminal ofthe upper bore, an expansible body on the upper end of the body and awedge pin movable in the upper bore for expanding said expansible body,and gripping means for the pin movable in a portion of said upper borefor limiting the upward movement of the pin and an expansible jawstructure on the lower end of the body, and means associated with thelower end of the body for expanding said jaw structure, said means forexpanding said e:;- pansible body on the upper end of the bodycomprising a tapered portion on said wedge pin, said expansible bodyhaving a tapered bore adapted to be acted upon by the tapered portion ofthe pin.

3. A well plug of the type described comprising an upright body having acentrally and longitudinally formed upper bore extending from its upperend to an intermediate point, and a tapered and screw threaded lowerbore extending from its lower end to a point below the lower terminal ofthe upper bore, an expansible body on the upper end of the body and awedge pin movable in the upper bore for expanding said expansible body,and gripping means for the pin movable in a portion of said upper borefor limiting the upward movement of the pin, and an expan sible jawstructure on the lower end of the body, and means associated with thelower end of the body for expanding said aw structure, said means forexpanding said expansible body on the upper end of the body comprising atapered portion on said wedge pin, said expansible body having a taperedbore adapted to be acted upon by the tapered portion of the pin, saidgripping means comprising spring positioned jaws contained in anenlargement of the upper bore for engaging the lower end of the wedgepin.

4. A well plug of the type described comprising an upright body having acentrally and longitudinally formed upper bore extending from its upperend to an intermediate point, and a tapered and screw threaded lowerbore extending from its lower end to a point below the lower terminal ofthe upper bore, an expansible body on the upper end of the body and awedge pin movable in the upper bore for expanding said expansible body,and gripping means for the pin movable in a portion of said upper borefor limiting the upward movement of the pin, and an expansible jawstructure on the lower end of the body, and means associated with thelower end of the body for expanding said jaw structure, said means forexpanding saidexpansible body on the upper end of the body comprising atapered portion on said wedge pin, said expansible body having a taperedbore adapted to be acted upon by the tapered portion of the pin, saidgripping means comprising spring positioned jaws contained in anenlargement of the upper bore for engaging the lower end of the wedgepin, said expansible structure comprising a wedge block having guidegrooves in its face and toothed jaws pivotally mounted on a support andslidable in said grooves.

5. A well plug of the type prising an upright body having a centrallyand longitudinally formed upper bore extending from its upper end to anintermediate point, and a tapered and screw threaded lower boreextending from its lower end to a point below the lower terminalof theupper bore, an expansible body on the upper end of the body and a wedgepin movable in the upper bore for expanding said expansible body, andgripping means for the pin movable in a portion of said upper bore forlimiting the upward movement of the pin, and an expansible jaw structureon the lower end of the body, and means associated with the lower end ofthe body for expanding said jaw structure, said means for expanding saidexpansible body on the upper end of the body comprising a taperedportion on said wedge pin, said exp ansible body having a tapered boreadapted to be acted upon by the tapered portion of the pin, saidgripping means comprising spring positioned jaws contained in anenlargement of the upper bore for engaging the lower end of the wedgepin, said expansible jaw structure comprising a wedge block having guidegrooves in its face and toothed jaws pivotally mounted on a support andslidable in said grooves, said means for expanding the jaw structurecomprising a weighted pin for moving said support upwardly uponcontacting the weighted pin with the bottom of the well.

In testimony whereof we aifix our signatures.

FRANK DAVIDSON. ROUGHEN GUINN.

described com-

